Think of the 2017 Smart Fortwo cabriolet as the vehicular equivalent of a raccoon. Both the city car and the masked mammal can be cute and strangely endearing, but both are best avoided entirely.

Compared with the previous Fortwo cabrio, though, the newest version of the convertible city car shows some signs of domestication. Like its coupe counterpart, the cabrio rides on a fresh platform co-developed with Renault. Overall length once again measures 106.1 inches, matching the previous-generation car, while the wheelbase sees a modest 0.2 inch increase. Width, however, grows by a substantial 4.1 inches.

Despite this added girth, the tiny two-door is incredibly easy to maneuver thanks to its impressive 22.8-foot turning circle—5.9 feet better than the previous car and a whopping 12.9 feet better than that of a Honda Civic. As with the Fortwo coupe, the cabrio’s exterior features short overhangs, large doors, expressive headlights equipped with LED daytime running lights, and Smart’s trademark contrasting color scheme.

In place of the coupe’s metal roof and two-piece tailgate, the cabrio adds a power-folding soft top that can be rolled partway back like a sunroof or retracted completely. The fabric roof can be opened or closed at any speed, and it features a pair of removable roof rails that can be snapped out and stored in a compartment within the tailgate. Although removing the rails provides a more traditional convertible experience, we suspect most drivers will leave them in place, as their presence is required to close the top.

Power Hour

Like its forebear, the Fortwo cabrio’s engine is mounted below the cargo floor and just ahead of the rear axle. Forward momentum comes courtesy of a turbocharged 0.9-liter inline-three that doles out 89 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque. The engine comes mated to either a standard five-speed manual transmission or an available six-speed dual-clutch automatic—a $990 option featured on our test car.

Acceleration in the 2235-pound Fortwo cabrio is a leisurely affair. Zero to 60 mph requires 10.2 seconds, while passing from 50 to 70 mph in top gear took 7.8 seconds. Still, the new Fortwo cabrio has made huge progress versus the previous-generation version, whose naturally aspirated 70-hp 1.0-liter three-cylinder needed a painstakingly long 13.6 seconds to reach 60 mph and 10.5 seconds to saunter from 50 to 70 mph.

The new three-cylinder nonetheless suffers from prodigious turbo lag, waking up only after the tach eclipses the 2500-rpm mark and making merging into traffic from a stop a hair-raising experience. While the Fortwo’s dual-clutch automatic operates with a level of refinement missing from the old model’s clunky five-speed automated manual transmission, the new gearbox is hesitant to downshift and slow to respond to manual inputs.

The cabrio averaged a meager 27 mpg on recommended premium-grade fuel during its stay with us, far off the EPA’s combined figure of 35 mpg. We did record 40 mpg during our 75-mph highway test, bettering the EPA’s 38-mpg highway rating.

Big Little Car

In spite of the Fortwo cabrio’s diminutive size and relatively low curb weight, the little droptop never feels particularly tossable or light on its feet. Blame the softly sprung suspension that lets the body bob and weave with every turn of the vague and lifeless steering wheel. The narrow 15-inch Continental ProContact TX all-season tires do the car no favors, either, as it managed a trucklike 0.71 g of grip on our 300-foot skidpad before the undefeatable stability-control system intervened. On the plus side, the Fortwo tracks straight at highway speeds, and its standard Crosswind Assist system keeps the slab-sided Smart from being tossed about in its lane by the wake of passing trucks.

Stopping exposed another dynamic failing, as the car’s front disc and rear drum brakes needed a long 188 feet to bring the Smart to a halt from 70 mph—18 feet longer than a three-plus-ton Ford Expedition. Adding insult to injury are pronounced brake dive and a brake pedal that isn’t very linear in operation.

Be Seated

Even so, the little droptop’s cabin is pleasant enough. Thanks to its additional width, the driver and passenger no longer sit shoulder to shoulder. Meanwhile, the massive windshield and upright seating position give the driver a confidence-inspiring view of the road ahead.

Unlike the Fortwo coupe, which is offered in an entry-level Pure trim, the cabrio’s order book opens with the better-equipped Passion model. Along with a height-adjustable driver’s seat, power mirrors, and 15-inch aluminum wheels, it also includes features found in the Pure coupe, such as automatic climate control and Bluetooth audio and phone streaming. Prime and Proxy trims are the higher rungs in the Fortwo’s lineup and bring additional standard equipment.

Atop its base price of $20,640 (including the automatic transmission), our Fortwo Passion cabrio test car’s optional equipment included a $100 center armrest, a $120 dashtop-mounted tachometer, $120 automatic headlights and windshield wipers, $240 heated seats, $250 rear proximity sensors, and a $490 premium audio system. There also was a $100 smartphone cradle that plugs into the center of the push-button audio system and allows the driver to easily view and interact with a phone’s music and navigation apps. The carmaker also offers its own Smart Cross Connect app that can display navigation functions and play music stored on the phone.

Our test car wore $350 worth of Lava Orange paint and a $400 Lighting package that adds fog lights, LED taillights, and LED light bars within the headlights. When everything was tallied, our test car wore an as-tested price of $22,810. That’s a lot of money for a little car, and although the Fortwo cabriolet’s power-folding soft top adds some distinction to the model, a more spacious and equally stylish Fiat 500C Pop can be had for as little as $17,485. Meanwhile, the racy 500C Abarth starts at $22,485—$325 less than our Fortwo cabrio test car.

Overall, the Fortwo cabriolet makes little sense in the U.S. market, where its tiny size is rarely an advantage. And it appears that Smart has come to grips with this reality. For 2018, the Fortwo coupe and cabrio will be sold exclusively in EV form, with an 80-hp electric motor and a 17.6-kWh battery pack. It’s a move that’s sure to put the Smarts into an even smaller niche.